A method and apparatus for executing a command in a number of electrical metering devices of a power distribution system provides each metering device with a command having a predetermined execution time and subsequently executes the command in each of the metering devices once the present time value equals or exceeds the predetermined execution time. Each electrical metering device includes a clock for providing the present time value as well as a memory device for receiving and storing the command. Each electrical metering device also includes at least one controller or microprocessor for monitoring or comparing the present time value with the predetermined execution time of the stored command and for executing the stored command once the present time value is at least as large as the predetermined execution time. A command may thus be provided to each electrical metering device of a power distribution system at various prior arbitrary times. The command may subsequentially be executed simultaneously in each of the electrical metering devices at the predetermined execution time.